Temperature-indicating device for water-cooling systems for internal



73. MEASURING AN W. P. HAMMOND.

TEMPERATURE INDICATING DEVICE FOR WATERCOOLING SYSTEMS FOR INTERNALcomeusnou ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE14, 191$- lielssued Mar. 15, 1921. R 15,063-

ELITE If T UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM P. HAMMOND, 0F PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE MOTOMETERCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TEMPERATURE-INDICATING DEVICE FOR WATER-COOLING SYSTEMS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM P. I'IAM- mom), a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in Passaic, county of Passaic, and State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Temperature-Indicating Devices for ater-Cooling Systems for Internal-CombustionEngines, of which the following, taken in connection with theaccompanying sheet of drawings, is a full, clear, and concisedescription.

My present invention relates to that general type of device disclosed inUnited States Letters Patent, No. 1,090,776, granted to one Harrison H.Boyce, and has for its objects to provide means whereby the temperatureindicating element will at all times indicate the actual temperature ofthe cooling medium in the circulating system of an internal combustionengine. The device of the patent mentioned comprises a temperatureindicating element supported by the filler cap of an automobile radiatorand depending into the air space above the water level therein, and, asa consequence thereof, the responsive element is influenced directly bythe temperature of said air space, which, under normal runningconditions, is considerably below the actual temperature of the coolingmedium, sometimes as much as 20 to 30 degrees. At the point ofvaporization, however, where the circulating water is converted intosteam, by abnormal running conditions, the temperature responsiveelement is caused to rise suddenly an appreciable distance along thescale of the instrument, this jump indicating to the driver in animpressive manner, the existence of an abnormal condition-a useful andhighly meritorious feature in itself. The actual temperature conditionof the cooling water, however, is never indicated under normal runningconditions. and it is the object of my present invention to make aninstrument of this general type so operate that one may be enabled atall times to know the actual temperature of the water as it circulatesthrough the system, and to do this preferably without changing the formof the Boyce device.

It is impossible to construct a heat responsive device capable of beingmounted upon the radiator cap and being removable there- :7, all.......J

Specification of Reissucd Letters Patent. Reissued )[an 15, 1921Original No. 1,178,154, dated April 4, 1916, Serial No. 20,984, filedApril 13, 1915. issue filed June 14, 1916.

Application for re- Serial No. 103,699.

with, to project into or be partly submerged lIl the water because thequantity of the latter is constantly varying. The cooling waterdiminishes as the running of the engine continues and frequently fallsbelow the top of the bank of air tubes, where no instrument would underany circumstances come in contact with it. For the accomplishment of theobject of this invention, I provide an extension to the return pipe ofthe radiator through which I bring the cooling medium constantly and atall times during its circulation in contact with the heat responsiveelement irrespective of the varying quantity of the water in theradiator.

Thus it will be seen that what I accomplish is the maintaining of anartificial water level within the radiator which, notwithstanding anyfall in the level of the water in the radiator or cool'ng system, isconstant or so nearly so as to permit the temperature responsive elementto at all times cooperate therewith, and which is constantly fed by thehot water returning from the engine so that its temperature is alwaysrepresentative of the thermal condition of the engine.

Through the instrumentality of my device, an accurate indication of thetemperature of the cooling medium is obtained, whether it be forexperimental purposes or as a constant signal to the automobile driver.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 indicates a verticalcross-sectional view of a fragmentary part of a radiator. a detachablefiller cap removably supporting the heat indicator, and the return pipeof the circulating system partly in full, supporting the extension tubeby which the artificial water level is maintained. Fig. 2 is a like viewon an enlarged scale showing a part of the bank of radiator air tubesand the flexible connection between the return pipes of the engine andthe radiator. Fig. 3 is a modification showing the manner in which thepresent invention may be used in connection with heating indicatingdevices, which are provided with short stems, which, in some in:-stances, may not project below the bottom of the filler opening. Fig. 4is a further modification illustrating the manner in which a flexibletube may be used for the purpose of conveying the entire volume ofcirculating fluid issuing from the return pipe So as to bring it intocontact with the temperature-responsive element of the indicatingdevice.

The radiator 1, is generally provided with a cylindrical extension 2,which serves as an opening through which the supply of the cooling waterin the circulating system is replenished. This cylindrical extension isclosed by a cap 3, which is removably connected thereto by the usualscrew threads. The cap 3 carries the indicating device L which, in thepresent instance, is illustrated as comprising a temperature responsiveelement 5 and a scale 6. A lower projecting sleeve or sheath 7 envelopsthe lower part of the heat responsive element and protects the same frombreakage. A series of apertures 8 are provided in the extremity of thissheath, and as the heat responsive element is supported and insulatedfrom the frame of the device and the sheath, it is obvious that thewater may be brought into actual contact with the heat responsiveelement, so that the latter will be operated thereby.

The numeral 9 indicates the bank of air tubes which form a structuralpart of the radiator, 10 the return pipe which generally forms a part ofthe radiator, and 11 a flexible connection between the end of the returnpipe of the water jackets of engine cylinders and the return pipe of theradiator.

It will be understood that as thus Ear described the construction iswell-known and forms no part of my present invention other than as thesame may be used in a cooperative way to accomplish the purpose of myinvention.

It will also be understood from what has heretofore been said that thequantity and rate of flow of the circulating fluid varies under variableconditions. For instance, if one should operate an engine for a givenlength of time without a replenishment of the circulating fluid, thewater-line within the radiator will fall to such an extent that anydevice projecting into the mouth of the filler opening, would not, underany circumstances, contact therewith. \Vhere the capacity of theradiator is large, the engine may safely run with much less water thanthe designed capacity of the radiator, particularly so, in extremelycold weather. In order, therefore, to insure the temperature responsiveelement constantly contacting with the circulating medium irrespectiveof its quantity, or rate of flow, I extend the return pipe to theradiator inwardly to a point beneath the temperature responsive devicewhen the latter is in normal operative position, so that the water willbe caused to flow in contact with the device. I do this, preferably, byusing a supplemental pipe 11, which has a close sliding fit within thereturn pipe 10. This pipe 11 is slipped through the return pipe 10. theflexible connection 11 being removed for the purpose.

The pipe It is closed at its inner end as at 12 and a portion of theside of the pipe is cut away to provide the aperture 13 through whichthe end of the instrument or heat responsive element is inserted. Thisaperture 13 serves as an outlet for the return water coming from thewater jackets of the engine, and inasmuch as the end of the heatresponsive indicating element projects well within the pipe 11, thewater is caused to circulate therearound in its passage to the radiatorthrough the aperture 18. A correct reading of the actual temperature ofthe water is thus obtained by reason of the operation of the expansionof the heat responsive medium in conjunction with the scale of the dial6. In the present instance, the .I

temperature responsive indicating element is made long enough to projectwell below the top of the radiator, preferably to a point nearly in linewith the lower wall of the return pipe.

In cases where the temperature responsive element does not extend belowthe cylindrical part of the radiator opening, it is desirable to providean upwardly extending pipe 14:, which will be concentrically positionedwith respect to the cylindrical filler opening and the heat responsiveelement, the latter projecting downwardly and centrally thereinto, asshown in Fig. 3. The pipe 14 may be suitably secured to the pipe 11, bya union, or any equivalent means, so that the return from the waterjackets of the engine will be caused to flow upwardly through the pipe1% and over the edge 15, in to the radiator, and in its passage, contactwith the temperature responsive element 5, so as to cause the latter torespond and indicate the temperature condition of the water on the dialIn both of these described instances the cooling medium is caused tocontact with the heat responsive element and operate the latter in thewell known manner, and, by so doing, knowledge may be obtained of theactual thermal condition of the system, and any abnormity of suchcondition may at once be detected.

By the use of my improvement, a con venient and ready understanding ofthe existing engine conditions can be had, and a useful application ofthe device to experimental purposes in connection with the manufactureof internal combustion engines obtained.

lVhile I have illustrated and described but one specific form orconstruction in which my invention may find embodiment, I do not wish tobe limited specifically thereto, as other means may be provided wherebythe return water to the radiator may be caused to flow into contact withthe IOU MEASURING AND TESTING.

heat responsive element. For instance, it may be feasible to employ aflexible pipe or tube as shown at 16 in F ig. 4:, which may be carriedby the tube 7, which, when inserted in place within the radiator, willextend into the return pipe 10, thus causing the water to flowtherethrough into contact with the heat responsive element.

I reserve to myself a reasonable application of the doctrine ofequivalency commensurate with the state of the prior art and the termsof my appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new herein anddesire to secure'by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with the cooling system of an internal combustionengine embodying a radiator and a return pipe therefor, aheat-responsive element positioned in the radiator and a tubular membercooperating with the return pipe orifice of the radiator and theheat-responsive element for directing the circulating medium againstsaid heat-responsive element during the return passage of said medium tosaid radiator.

2. A device for indicating the temperature of cooling water of aninternal combustion engine, comprising in combination a radiator, and areturn pipe therefor, said radiator having a filler opening, a tubularmember inserted in the return pipe of the radiator and projecting withinthe radiator below the filler opening thereof, and atemperature-responsive indicating device mounted in and carried by thefiller cap of said radiator, said indicating device projecting withinthe tubular member so as to contact at all times with the circulatingcooling medium therein.

3. In combination with a liquid circulating cooling system of aninternal combustion engine, a radiator and a return pipe therefor, saidradiator having a filler opening, a heat-responsive indicating devicemounted in and carried by the filler cap thereof, said indicating deviceprojecting within the radiator below the filler opening, and a pipeprojecting from the return pipe of the radiator and into the radiatorbelow the filler opening, said pipe having an aperture through which theindicating device projects, the end of said pipe being closed in orderto cause the cooling medium to contact with the indicating device andpass through said opening during its circulation throu h the system.

4. 5 device for indicating the temperature of cooling water of aninternal c0 mbustion engine, comprising in combinatlon with the radiatorand a return pipe therefor, said radiator having a filler opening, atubular member inserted in the return p pe of the radiator, said tubularmember being substantially the diameter of the return passage so as toreceive substantially the entire flow of circulating cooling medium,said tubular member projecting within the radiator and below the filleropening thereof, and a temperature-responsive indicating device mountedin and carried by the filler cap of said radiator, said indicatingdevice projecting within the tubular member so as to contact at alltimes with the circulating cooling medium.

5. In combination with a cooling system of an internal combustion engineembodying a radiator and a return pipe therefor, said radiator having afiller opening, a temperature-indicating device mounted in and carriedby the filler cap of said radiator and having a temperatureresponsivepart projecting within the radiator, a member provided with anunobstructed passage cooper ating with the return pipe of the radiatorand the temperature-responsive part of the indicating device whereby theentire flow of the cooling medium will be caused to pass through saidunobstructed passage and when circulating at all times to influence thetemperature-responsive part of the indi cating device.

6. In combination with a cooling system of an internal combustionengine, a radiator and a return pipe therefor, said radiator having afiller opening, an indicating device mounted in and carried by thefiller cap thereof, said indicating device having atemperature-responsive part projecting within the radiator below thefiller opening thereof, a member provided with an unobstructed passagelocated in the return pipe of the radiator and substantially filling thesame, said member projecting within the radiator and beneath the filleropening thereof, and being formed to accommodate the heat-responsivepart of the indicating device so that the cooling medium will be causedto contact therewith while circulating.

7. In combination with the cooling system of an internal combustionengine, including a radiator and means for returning the hot water fromthe engine into the upper part of the radiator, of a thermometer havinga part supported in the upper part of the radiator in such position asto be located in the stream of water entering the radiator.

8. In combination with the cooling system of an internal combustionengine including a radiator and a return pipe for the hot water from theengine, of means fed by the return pipe for maintaining a body of waterat substantially the temperature of the water leaving the engine and ata substantially constant level at or above the level of the water in theradiator, and a temperature indicating instrument arranged to 1ndi catethe temperature of said body of hot water.

9. In combination with the cooling system of an internal combustionengine including a radiator and a return pipe for the hot water from theengine, of means forming a chamber in the upper part of the radiator andconnected with said return pipe and into which water from said returnpipe discharges, and a temperature indicating instrument arranged toindicate the temperature of the water in said chamber.

10. In combination with the cooling system of an internal combustionengine including a radiator and a return pipe for the 'peratureresponsive element located in the radiator, and an open and unobstructedtube for conveying water from said return pipe into contact with saidtemperature responsive element.

12. The combination with'the cooling system of an internal combustionengine including a radiator and a return pipe for the hot water from theengine, of temperature indicating means, including a temperatureresponsive element located in the radiator, and means for conveyingwater from said return pipe into contact with said element, the freedomof discharge of water into the radiator being substantially undiminishedby said means.

13. The combination with the cooling system of an internal combustionengine including a radiator and a return pipe for the hot water from theengine, of means forming a chamber in the upper part of the radiatorthrough which all of'the Water from said return pipe discharges into theradiator, and temperature indicating means having its heat responsiveelement in said chamber.

14. The combination with the cooling system of an internal combustionengne including a radiator and return pipe for the hot water from theengine, of temperature indicating means including a temperatureresponsive element, and means fitting within the return pipe andsupported by engagement with the walls of the return pipe for directingwater from said return pipe into contact with said temperatureresponsive element.

WILLIAM P. HAMMOND.

